Canadian researchers specializing in tracking online misinformation and foreign interference have expressed appreciation for a new feature that discloses the location of a given account. However, they caution that the feature still has some flaws and should be interpreted with caution. While the ability to uncover true locations could help expose fake accounts and foreign entities masquerading as Canadians to influence political matters, there are concerns that it may inadvertently endanger individuals such as dissidents by revealing their whereabouts or the use of VPNs for online communication.
Recently, X, formerly known as Twitter, introduced an “about this account” feature that discloses the geographic location of accounts. Although advocates for transparency in combating misinformation on social media had urged X to provide more clarity, the unexpected rollout of this new feature sparked immediate reactions and led users in the U.S. and Canada to scrutinize accounts where the stated location did not match the actual location.
The discovery that several influential accounts supporting U.S. President Donald Trump’s Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement were based outside the U.S., in regions like Eastern Europe, Russia, and Nigeria, raised suspicions of potential foreign influence on the movement. Similarly, accounts purporting to be in Gaza seeking donations for impoverished families were found to be located in countries like India, raising questions about their authenticity.
Instances of location discrepancies were also observed in accounts discussing Canadian politics. For example, a prominent Conservative-leaning account with over 150,000 followers was listed as being in Italy, while an account advocating for Alberta sovereignty with 15,000 followers was identified as being in Thailand. Both accounts have not responded to inquiries from CBC News.
Moreover, two out of five federal political parties and media organizations, including the CBC, were inaccurately listed as being situated outside Canada. Despite the Conservative, Bloc Québécois, and Green Party accounts being correctly placed in Canada, the location feature showed the Liberal Party and New Democrat accounts as being in the U.S.
Lucy Watson, the national director of the NDP, attributed the incorrect location of their account to the use of a virtual private network (VPN) for security purposes. The Liberal Party spokesperson, Matteo Rossi, deferred queries about their account location to the company, emphasizing that all Liberal Party social accounts are operated from Canada. Similarly, CBC representatives clarified that despite some accounts being inaccurately depicted as based in the U.S., all CBC accounts are managed from Canada, and efforts are underway to rectify the misinformation.
According to experts, the discrepancies in the new feature’s location information can be attributed to various factors, such as the reliance on IP addresses associated with accounts to determine their locations. Philip Mai, co-director of the Social Media Lab at Toronto Metropolitan University, explained that the feature aggregates IP addresses to provide users with account location information, which may lead to inaccuracies. Mai shared an example of his own account being erroneously listed in Germany due to past research activities in that country.
The launch of this feature follows pressure on X to enhance transparency amid concerns about potential foreign interference in political affairs. While the tool is seen as a step towards combatting bot accounts and manipulation, experts predict that individuals seeking to deceive will adapt quickly. The feature could also pose risks for those relying on VPNs for privacy and protection, including activists, journalists, and individuals in oppressive regimes.
Increased transparency on X is welcomed by Mika Desblancs-Patel, a research engineer at the Media Ecosystem Observatory in Montreal. Despite the current errors in the information, Desblancs-Patel believes that the feature can aid in identifying accounts involved in foreign interference. However, the long-term efficacy of the tool in uncovering such accounts remains uncertain, as those engaging in interference may devise strategies to conceal their locations.
In conclusion, Desblancs-Patel emphasizes the importance of critical thinking when interpreting online content and advises users to use location data as a supplementary tool for assessing the credibility of information encountered on social media.